IA#37-04, ----11/20/91 REVISED ATTACHMENT 8/5/94 TYPE OF ALERT : Automatic Detention and Increased Coverage PRODUCT : Mole Paste and Mexican Hot Sauces PRODUCT CODE : 37J[][][][] 37K[][][][] HARMONIZED CODE : 2103.90.60705 2103.90.60901 PROBLEM : Adulteration with rodent filth, cat and dog hair, insect filth, mites and human hair. (FLRF, FLCF, FLAF, FLNF, FLSM, FLNC) COUNTRY : Mexico (MX,595) MANUFACTURER/ SHIPPER : Various MANUFACTURER/ SHIPPER I.D.# : N/A IMPORTER'S I.D.# : N/A CHARGE : "The article appears to consist in whole or in part of a filthy, putrid or decomposed substance or is otherwise unfit for food." [Adulteration, Section 402(a)(3)] RECOMMENDING OFFICE : Dallas District Office (HFR-SW140) REASON FOR ALERT : Since 1982 numerous entries of Mole Paste and other types of Mexican styled hot sauces continue to be detained due to filth contamination. It is believed that a major ingredient, dried peppers, are handled in an undesirable manner that results in contamination by insects, rodents, birds and other sources of filth. Surveillance of one major producer revealed repeated violations; a consultation was arranged between the firm Page 2 - Import Alert #37-04 and Dallas District. Despite an agreement on a course of action, DAL-DO did not receive confirmation that these improvements were initiated. Subsequent testing of seven different lots of Mole Paste (Dona Maria brand) revealed that six of the lots contained violative levels of rodent hairs, cat and dog hairs, insect filth and mites. CFSAN concurs with the detention of this product based on the reported filth findings. Shipments found violative in the past include products labeled as hot sauce, chili sauce, mole sauce and brava sauce as well as mole paste. INSTRUCTIONS : Automatically detain all shipments of the product identified from the manufacturer/packer/shipper listed in the Attachment. Increased surveillance of similar products from other manufacturers is indicated as program time allows. Method used by the Dallas Laboratory: 1) Basic pretreatment as per LIB #2866 followed by 2) Final extraction using AOAC 978.20 (60/20 Ethanol/Water) or AOAC 975.49(b) (40/10 Isopropyl Alcohol/Water) KEYWORDS : Mole Paste, Mexican Sauces, Filth, Hot Sauce, Dona Maria, Herdez FOI : No purging required. Attachment A to Import Alert #37-04 REVISED 8/5/94 Firms/Products on Automatic Detention Firm Product NOTE: This revision removes only the firms/product which had been subject to automatic detention under this import alert. Firms/products which meet the criteria for automatic detention will be added to the attachment of this alert as appropriate, in the future.